Poll finds rest of NZ warming to Jafas

Auckland - it's the city the rest of New Zealand loves to
hate. Or at least they used to.

A recent Herald on Sunday-commissioned poll found around 45
per cent believed Aucklanders held themselves in higher
regard than other New Zealanders. But just as many disagreed
with the statement - or just didn't care.

Jason Hill, tourism manager at Auckland Tourism Events and
Economic Development (Ateed), said the results from the Key
Research poll were positive.

"If you had conducted a poll like that 15-20 years ago the
numbers would have been a lot higher.

"Attitudes towards Auckland are changing and more people from
outside Auckland are choosing to live here."

Hill believed the more people were exposed to Aucklanders the
more positive they felt. He said visits to Auckland for the
Rugby World Cup broke down a lot of negative perceptions.

"People came here and had a great time. They might have
partied in the city centre and had a trip to a vineyard and
just spent some time."

Proud Aucklander and former All Black Sir John Kirwan wanted
to see the rest of New Zealand support the city and said
Aucklanders should be proud to say where they lived.

He wore a Jafa T-shirt with pride and said it stood for "Just
Another Fantastic Aucklander"- rather than the derogatory
phrase sometimes used.